The Takoradi Polytechnic has received a six million dollar facility from the Africa Development Bank for the development of 15 specific projects in harnessing the educational prospects of the school.
Professor Frank John Eshun, Rector of the Polytechnic, said already the Bank together with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education has contracted Messers Fridoug Limited to commence the construction of five of the projects.
Announcing this at the 15th Congregation of the Polytechnic in Takoradi in the Western Region, Professor Eshun mentioned that these new education infrastructures would be housed on a 152 acre plot of land acquired at Akatakyi in the Ahanta West District as part of the first phase of the projects.
The projects to be constructed would include lecture theatre complex, mechanical and electrical workshop, four storey staff accommodation, library and an ICT complex.
The Rector said the Polytechnic would also construct the demolished Oduro Block with auxiliary facilities to enhance teaching and learning.
Other projects to be undertaken by the school are the establishment of a printing press, driving school, commercializing the autotronic centre and retooling of other production unit to serve as income generation ventures for the Polytechnic.
Professor Eshun mentioned that research continues to be a key area of the Polytechnic, adding that the school’s journal had published its fourth edition.
He said the Polytechnic was ready to meet the conversion criteria adding, “even though the conversion is good news for all of us, it also challenges us to justify our inclusion.”
The Rector of the Polytechnic said the school had over the years repositioned itself as a strategic institute for training of highly skilled human resource to drive economic growth.
Mr. Joseph Ackah, Chairman of the Polytechnic Council, was full of praise for the teaching and non-teaching staff for their enormous efforts to help the graduands during their studies.
He said the Polytechnic continued to develop various programmes for the benefits of students.
The Council Chairman however bemoaned the state of current infrastructure which hampers teaching and learning and appealed to stakeholders to assist in overcoming the challenges.
The Polytechnic in the 2014/2015 academic year, turned out 3,256 graduands from which 65 received Bachelor of Technology Degrees, 3,146 awarded High National Diplomas, and 45 Civil Engineering graduands received HND Competency Based Training Certificates.
